Ian Hudghton (Greens/EFA) - I voted in favour of the resolution calling for the CETA text to be referred to the ECJ, for consideration of whether the terms are entirely compatible with the EU treaties. A very large number of constituents have been in touch with me expressing concerns about the potential consequences of CETA, and also with concerns about the recent apparent moves to apply unseemly haste to the process of consideration by this Parliament. Surely we owe it to our constituents to allow time for full scrutiny in our Committees of this text, and to consider whether the concerns of critics can be openly and genuinely addressed.

Although we have been told that the ICS system within CETA will be constrained to a limited extent by the inclusion of a clause which ‘guarantees’ the right of governments to regulate in the public interest, I think it reasonable to seek a judgement of the ECJ for clarity and I am disappointed that the resolution did not achieve a majority in the vote.